Oklahoma AG Argues Regional Haze Case at US Court

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma's attorney general has told a federal appeals court that the Environmental Protection Agency exceeded its authority in creating regional haze guidelines for the state.

Attorney General Scott Pruitt was in Denver Wednesday to argue the state's case before the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The arguments come eight months after the federal appeals court stopped the EPA from implementing its regional haze plan in Oklahoma.

Utility officials say implementation of the plan would cause utility costs to rise 13 percent to 20 percent in three years. Pruitt says he's challenging the agency's decision to preserve the ability to create an Oklahoma solution to the haze issue.

The Regional Haze Rule requires agencies to work together to improve visibility at national parks and wilderness areas by 2064.